My Story: Ems Coombes

I had a stroke when I was 17 and, as a teenager, found I was given little support; when I came out of hospital, there wasn’t anything. I didn’t know what was happening to me and for six or seven years, even though I used a walking stick, I denied that I was disabled.

Having always been interested in drama, I was determined to work in the sector, but it was only when I got involved with the Priory in Totnes and saw them using drama to help integrate 19 people with physical or learning disabilities back into the community, that I began to understand what I was meant to be doing. That’s when I realised there was a niche for me; before that I didn’t really know what it was to be disabled, or even if it was possible to be a disabled person in the arts world. I spent the last part of my time at Dartington College of Arts researching what it was to be a disabled person in the arts world, and to see what there was out there.

There is little provision for disabled people in Plymouth to express themselves creatively, which is certainly frustrating for people like me. It’s difficult particularly for young disabled people and it’s a shame that non-disabled people aren’t benefiting from working with disabled people too. By the nature of their experiences, disabled people have something different to offer which sadly is being overlooked.

I went to the Barbican Theatre in Plymouth with my CV to see what I could do with them. They said that I needed to have one really good, really strong idea, and then they could possibly help me. So I went away and came up with Strictly Collaborative, and they really liked it. I’ve been working on this for a year and a half to two years and I’ve done most of it on my own. We’ve had problems with funding – thankfully, the Big Lottery Fund has awarded us some cash – and it didn’t help that I had to go into hospital, but the aim is to launch it officially on 29 June – one day after my 30th birthday. I’m quite excited by that!

The idea of Strictly Collaborative is made obvious in the name; I’m not so much in charge of a theatre group as a facilitator for those taking part. The aim is to work with young people aged 13 to 19 through a workshop programme on various themes. The first will be themed ‘a Place for Belonging’; it’s about, basically, what makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside – the things, places or people that you treasure. Members of the group will create and perform a play stemming from their autobiographical experiences. Individuals will be encouraged to come up with the ideas and  are involved in the project each step of the way, from its conception to a final performance at the end of each series of weekly workshops. All of us collaboratively decide where the workshops will go.

The hardest thing about setting Strictly Collaborative up is that I’m working mainly on my own; because I have no funding, I can’t get an administrator in, which would be fantastic, to be honest. I’m doing this on my own, which is really difficult when I’m – for lack of a better word – “floopy”.

Nevertheless, I believe this is an amazing possibility to do some fantastic work, to show non-disabled – and also disabled people who don’t know about disability art – what they’re capable off. I believe that if people can see that disabled people are not just there to be pitied, it’ll give some ‘Oomph!’ to our lives!

For more information on Strictly Collaborative, call Ems Coombes on 07917 276 254, email ems@strictlycollaborative.co.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.strictlycollaborative.co.uk.